Joshua would not let her wait till she got indoors before changing them, as she proposed, but insisted on her performing that operation under a tree, so that they might enter as if they had not walked.

He was nervously formal about such trifles, while Rosa took the whole proceeding--walk, dressing, dinner, and all--as a pastime.

To Joshua it was a serious step in life.
A more unexpected kind of person for a curate's sister was never presented at a dinner.

The surprise of Mrs.Fellmer was unconcealed.

She had looked forward to a Dorcas, or Martha, or Rhoda at the outside, and a shade of misgiving crossed her face.